Method and apparatus for drawing strip



April 14, 1942. s o s METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING STRIP 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1940 INVENTOR Aaron Jamm BY AC 7 ATTQRNFY April 14, 1942.

A. SIMONS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING STRIP Filed April 25, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/ A l INVENTOR Aaron, 2539220115 BY i Q g P ATTORNEY 2 April 14, 1942. s o s 2,279,415

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING STRIP Filed April 25, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4/ 26 50 l l 1 /v 127 B #1 5% e5 \A B A l 5 2/ Z 20 I II: 4/ 30- :1: M

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v L /,l w i INVENTOR Aaron, 1521720225 ATTORNEY A ril 14, 1942.

A. SIMONS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING STRIP Filed April 25, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w d x VIFO O O O O 0o 3 o 5 o o o o PIP M w 1' 5 w J q 1 a 0 7 3 Y W 0 Wm m ma Patented Apr. 14, -1 942 METHOD APPARATUS FOR DRAWING STRIP Aaron Simons, Bronx, N. Y.

Application April 25, 1940, Serial No. 331,508 18Claims. (c1. 205-1) This invention relates to the production of metal strips, sheets and the like, by drawing metal between relatively movable die members which are maintained in predetermined spaced relationship to each other; and the object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus by means of which a strip or sheet of metal, such for example as ferrous or non-ferrous metals or metal alloys may be drawn to greater degrees than by any other known process or apparatus in each pass of a strip or sheet ber of passes through apparatus of this class in the production of a relatively thin strip, while at the same time improving the properties of the resulting product, not only from the standpoint of the texture thereof, but also from the standpoint of the smoothness and finish provided on the resulting strip; still further the object of my invention is to provide a method or apparatus for drawing, metal in the manner described wherein a uniform transverse thickness of the strip or sheet is maintained without the customary crowning in the center, and wherein no appreciable change is produced in the width of the strip or sheet worked upon and wherein the contour of the edges is maintained; a still further object being to provide a method and apparatus for drawing strip or sheet metal wherein the die members are longitudinally supported throughout their working length by backing or supporting members and each die member with its back backing or-supporting members, and in a path through the apparatus, thus reducing the num- I erence characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. l is a top plan'view of amachine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial section onthe line 2- Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line 4-4 of v Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 5 of Fig. 4.with part of the structure removed.

Fig. 6 is a section onthe line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line -1-! of Fig. 6 showing only a part ofthe construction.

Fig. 8 is a partial section on the line 88 of Fig. 2 showing the gear train employed, and v Fig. 9 is a partial section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one adaptation of my invention in the production of apparatus for accomplishing the intended transversely or substantially transversely to the path of movement of the strip through the apparatus; and to provide means for adjusting the spacing of the die members with respect to each other to control and regulate the reduction in the thickness of the workpiece to be formed in each pass thereof through the apparatus; a further" object being to provide means for rotating the die members during the reciprocating movement imparted thereto; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the method of producing strips or sheets, and in an apparatus ,for the purpose specified, which is constructed and operated as more fully hereinafter described drawing operations upon workpieces of various types and kinds. It will be understood, however, that this embodiment is presented merely to give some idea of the method of carrying my invention into effect.

.In the operation of the apparatus, it will be understood that the drawing of the strip is accomplished by positive pull applied to the strip, and the dies function primarily to control and regulate the thickness of the resulting product and to iron out or smooth out the workpiece.

. The reciprocating back and forth motion imparted to the die members, reduces, to a major degree, the frictional surface resistance between the die members and the workpiece, and thereby permits the die members to rotate with a surface speed materially different than the speed of travel of the outcoming reduced product and facili-' tates the drawing of the workpiece between the die members. The reciprocating back and forth motion imparted to the supporting members, reduces, to a major degree, the frictional surface resistance between .the supporting members and their respective carriers, and thereby facilitates the rotation of the supporting members in their respective carriers. It will also be understood that in those metals which require intermediate annealings between passes in cold rolling, my improved process will materially reduce the cost, in that the number of intermediate annealing opermy improvement are designated by suitable ref- 55 ations are greatly reduced and in some cases entirely eliminated, because my process of drawdirection of their respective axes.

guide roller 2| and between the die rods 22, and

then over another guide roller 23, and is then wound on an independently actuated drum 24. In carrying out my invention it is important that the drum 24 be positively rotated with sumcient forceto pull or draw the strip between and through the die rods 22.

The die rods 22 are of equal diameter and are rotatable at equal speeds about their axes .and are longitudinally movable at equal speeds in the Each die rod 22 is held in place by suitable sliding supports and is actuated by a pair of parallel driven rollers 25 which form backing or bearing members for the die rods 22. The rollers 25 are so arranged that each die rod 22 seats in the space between and in contact with each roller 25 and with the strip A. The rollers 25 are mounted insubstantially semicylindrical grooves in cylindrical carriers 25, and these grooves are lined with suitable friction bearing material 21. The carriers 25 are in turn mounted in a housing '28'which is attached to a base 28.

, Disposed centrally within the carriers 28 are shafts 30, on which are arranged gears 3| which mesh with fixed gears 32" forming part of the rollers 25. The shafts 38 are slidably keyed as at 35a to sleeves 33 which are mounted in a housing 34 having bearings 35. Mounted on these sleeves 33 are intermeshing gears 38. One

of these sleeves 33, being the lower one in Fig. 2, y

is connected through a-suitable coupling 31 to a motor 38 or other suitable source of power.

The gears cause the upper sleeve 33 to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the lower sleeve 33. The rotation of the sleeves 33 cause the keyed shafts '35 to rotate likewise in opposite directions. These shafts 30 are keyed to the gears 3| which are meshed with the gears 32, and will thereupon rotate the rollers posite end of the carrier 28 is another plate carried upon the shaft 30 so as to permit said shaft 35 to rotate within the plate 40. The plates 33wand 45 are connected by a plurality of lock rods 4|. The plates 38 and 48 also serve as journals for the rollers 25, and the die rods 22. Rigidly attached to the plate 40 is a collar 42 which rotatably engages a flange 43 of a sleeve 44 having rack-bar sectionswhich engage a gear 45.

The gear 45 is connected by a shaft 48 to a bevel gear 41 which is behind the gear 45 in the view shown in Fig. 2, but appears on Figs. 4 and 5. The bevel gear 41 meshes with two bevel pinions 48 loosely mounted on a driven shaft 48. Between the two bevel pinions 48 is 'a sleeve 50 keyed to the shaft 49 and having clutch teeth for locking either of the bevel pinions 48 to the shaft 49. The sleeve 58 may be moved back and forth by a lever 5| to engage either of the -bevel pinions 48. The lever 5| is also engaged with a lever 52 on'therocker shaft 53 which carries a pawl 54 t which travels between a pair of stops 55 on the a sprocket 55 which engages, by the chain 51, a sprocket 58 mounted at the end of the upper I sleeve 33.

As the upper sleeve 33 rotates, the shaft 48 will be-rotated through the sprocket 58, chain 51 and sprocket 58. It should be noted that Fig. 5 shows a view from the rear of the view shown in Fig. 2. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 5, the clutch 55 has just been moved into engagement with the left-hand pinion 48. It will thus be seen that the parts are now in position so that the rotation of the gear 45 will move the upper sleeve 44 and its associated parts to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 and the lower sleeve 44 and its associated parts to the right likewise as viewed in Fig. 2. At the completion of this last named movement of the parts, the right-hand pin 55 as viewed in Fig. 2 will trip the pawl 54, thus moving the clutch 55 out of engagement with the lefthand pinion 48 as viewed in Fig. 5, and moving the same. into engagement with the right-hand pinion 48, as viewed in Fig. 5, causing the gear 45 to rotate in the opposite direction to again return the sleeve 44 and associated parts to the position shown in Fig. 2. This reversing motionwill continue as the machine operates, thereby die rods 22 and their supports 25.

In constructing themachine, the carriers'28' and the, rollers 25 and the die rods 22 can be so arranged that the die rods 22 in their central position as shown in Fig. 3, can be spaceda minimum distance apart or can even be arranged so that they contact each other. To permit the insertion of the strip A between the die rods 22, the carriers 28 can be rotatedto increase the distance between the die rods 22. The rotation of the carriers 28 can then be reversed to bring the die rods 22 to the desired spacing to effect a predetermined reduction in the thickness of the strip. I

To accomplish this action, the carriers 25 may have a shaft portion 59 as shown in Figs. 2, 6 and '7, and on these shaft portions 59 may be mounted worm gears 50 meshing with a worm 5|. The worm 8| is mounted on a shaft 82 within a housing 53 whichis secured to the housing 28 of the machine. At one side of the housing 53 the shaft 52 is carried through an adjustable nut 84 and at the outer end of the shaft 82 is a lever 55. At the other side of-the housing 53 and at the other end of the shaft 82 is a nut 55 similar to the nut 84, and outwardly of the nut 58 is a wheel 81. Turning the wheel 51 causes the worm 8| to rotate the worm gears 55 and thereby rotate the carriers 28. Moving the lever 55 causes the worm 5| to operate as a rack, likewise rotatingthe worm gears 58 and the carriers 28. The nuts 84 and 88 each respectively prevents the lever 85 or the wheel 81 from imparting further side motion to the shaft 82 and thereby limits the rotation of the carriers 25.

upper sleeve 44. On the end of the shaft 43 is be rotated counter-clockwisa' This is accomplished by moving the; shaft 52 to the left as shown in Fig. 6. The desired thipkness of the reduced strip B is then determined and the nut 84 is locked in such position that it will stop the return movement of the shaft 82 at a point at which the spacing between the die rods 22 is equal to the desired thickness. The strip A is ried to the right because of their frictional contact with the strip, but upon reaching their desired position, the contact of the lever 65'with the nut 64 will prevent further motion, and the die rods 22 will'be set in their desired position.

Any suitable means may be provided to regulate the proper setting of the nut 64 to eifect any predetermined thickness of the reduced strip.

The machine is completely reversible, that is to say, the drum 24 can be used as the feeding drum and the drum 26 as the winding drum. In this arrangement it will be understood that the nut 66 functions inthe same manner as the nut 64, and the wheel 6'! acts as a stop similar to the lever 65. Both of the nuts 64 and 65 are in the art and should require no specific illustration.

Preferably, the die rods are rotated at surface speeds materially less than the speed of travel of the reduced product, and this speed may constitute a mean between the speed of travel of the incoming workpiece and the speed of travel of the outgoing drawn product. It is. apparent that by changing the sprocket ratio of the drive, the ratio between the surface speed of the die rods and the speed of travel of the reduced product may be varied to suit different types and kinds of workpieces.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new' and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. An apparatus for drawing elongated work pieces to reduce the thickness thereof, comprisadjustable. In both instances, either the lever 65 l or the wheel 61 can be used to vary the spacing between the die rods 22. i

The drums 26 and 24 are connected by shafts .68 and 69 to gears 16 and II respectively, note Fig. 1, which mesh with a pinion 12 on the end of a shaft 13 connected with an independent motor 14 through a suitable coupling 15. In this Way power can be applied to either the drum or the drum 24 by moving clutch members 10a, Ha into operative engagement to key either of'the gears 10, H to its respective shaft 68 or 69.

Although separate motors are shown in Fig. 1

for the operation of the machine and winding drum, one motor or other source of power can be used for the operation of all parts by the use of suitable gearing or other transmission means as will be apparent.

It will be understood that the die rods 22 may well be termed rollers or the working rolls of the machine. With the present construction, these working rolls or die rods are supported throughout substantially the entire length thereof, or at least what may be termed the entire working length thereofwith respect to a workpiece passed through the machine. The supports or bearings for the die rods or working rolls reciprocate longitudinally of said working rolls or die rods, that is to say, move in a direction longitudinally or paralleling the axes of said ing a pair of elongated die members, means for drawing the workpiece between said die members, i

a pair of friction bearings extending throughout the length of and operatively engaging each die member, means for rotating said bearings to frictionally rotate the die members, and means for reciprocating the die members in oppositedirections to each other transversely of the direction of travel of the workpiece and longitudinally of the axes of said die members while said die members are rotated on their axes.

2. An apparatus for drawing elongated workpieces to reduce the thickness thereof, coniprising a pair of elongated die members, means for drawing the workpiece between said die members, a pair of friction bearings extending throughout the length of and operatively engaging each die member, means for rotating said bearings to frictionally rotate the die members,

and means for reciprocating said pairs of bearings so that each pair moves in unison in the opposite direction to the other pair and transversely of the direction of travel'of the workpiece and parallel to the axes of .said die members.

- 3. An apparatus for drawing elongated .workieces to reduce the thickness thereof, comprising a pair of elongated die members, means for drawing the workpiece between said die members, apair of friction bearings extending throughout the length of and operatively engaging each die member, means for rotating said bearings to fric- Working rolls or die rods, thereby controlling frictional relationship between the operative or engaging parts. I

It will be apparent that with the construction as disclosed, what I term the carriers 26 are seated in the housings 28 throughout the major portion of the circumference of said carriers. The backing members 25 are seatedin substantially semi-cylindrical recesses in said carriers.

This forms a sturdy backing for the die rods as will be apparent. It will also be understood that the particular arrangement of the pair. of rollers 25 also operate to take up lateral thrust or strains to which the die rods are subjected in the drawing of the workpiece. It will of course be understood that the illustrations in Fig; 3 of ,the' drawings, with respect to the workpiece andv drawn strip, are purely diagrammatic in that relative comparative thickness of the workpiece A as compared with thedrawn strip B is not shown, but this is well known and understood tionally rotate the die members, means for reciprocating said pairs of bearings so that each pair moves in unison in the opposite direction to the other pair and transversely of the direction of travel of the workpiece and parallel to the axes of said die members, said bearings being mounted in carriers, and means for rotating the carriers to adjust the spacing of the die members one with respect to the other.

4. An apparatus for drawing elongated workpieces to reduce the thickness thereof, comprising a pair of elongated die membersmeans for drawing the workpiece between said die members,

a pair of friction bearings extending throughout the length of and operatively engaging each die member, means for rotating said bearings to 'frictionally rotate the die members, means for reciprocating said pairsof bearings so that each pair moves in unison in the opposite direction to the other pair and transversely of the direction of travel ,of the workpiece and parallel to the axes of said die members, said bearings being mounted in carriers, means for rotating the carriers to adjust the spacing of the die members one with respect tothe other, and adjustfrictionally rotate thedie members, means for reciprocating said pairs of bearings so that each pair moves in unison in the opposite direction to the other pair and transversely of the direction of travel of the workpiece and parallel to the axes of said die members, said bearings being mounted in carriers, means for rotating the carriersto adjust the spacing of the die members one with respect to the other, and automatically actuated means controlling reciprocation of said bearings.

6. An apparatus for drawing elongated workpieces to reduce the thickness thereof, compris-- ing a pair of elongated die members, means for drawing the workpiece between said die members, friction bearings extending throughout the length of and operatively engaging each die member, means for rotating said bearings to frictionally rotate the die members, and means for reciprocating said bearings so that each bear-'- ing and the die member engaged by itmove in the opposite direction to the other bearing andits die member.

'7. An apparatus for drawing elongated workpieces to reduce the thickness thereof, compris-v ing a. pair of spaced elongated 'die members, means for drawing the workpiece between said die members, bearings for each die member, at least one of said bearings comprising a pair of rods arranged longitudinally of and operatively engaging one vof said die members, means for reciprocating the bearings so that the bearing for one die member moves inthe opposite direction to the bearing for the other die member and transversely of the direction .of travel of the workpiece and parallel to the axes of said die members, means for rotating said die members on their axe's, the bearing for at least one of the die members being arranged in a carrier, and

means for rotatably adjusting the carrier to regulate the spacing between the die members.

8. In a rolling mill for reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece, a pair of working rolls having their axes arranged in parallel relation, a pair of elongated rotatably adjustable carriers having their axes arranged in parallel relation, elongated bearings mounted inadjacent surfaces of the carriers and forming supports for said working rolls and extending sub-.

-stantially the full length of said rolls and said carriers, and means for rotatably adjusting 'said carriers about their axes to move the bearings towardand from each other to regulate thespacing of the working rolls one with respect to the other. I

9. In a rolling mill for reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece, a pair of working rolls having their axes arranged in parallel relation, a pair of rotatably adjustable carriers having their axes arranged in parallel relation, elongated bearings mounted in adjacent surfaces of the carriers and forming supports for said working rolls and extending substantially the.

full length/of said'rolls, means for rotatablyiadjusting said carriers about their axes to move the bearings toward and from each ot r to regulate spacing of the working rolls one with respect to the other, and means for rotating said working rolls. 1

10. In a rolling mill for reducing'the thickness of an elongated workpiece, a pair of working rolls arranged in parallel relation, a pair of elongated carriers, elongated bearings mounted in and movable with the carriers forming supports for said working rolls and extending substantially the full length of said rolls and said carriers, means for rotatabiy adjusting said carriers to regulate spacing of the working rolls one with respect to the other, and means for reciprocating said bearings in opposite directions to each other parallel to the axesof' said working rolls.

-11. The method of controlling frictional rela-' tionship in drawing elongated workpieces, which includes the steps of supporting each roll of a pair of working rolls throughout its operative length between two rotatable elements reciprocated parallel to the axis of the rolls while rotating said supporting elements.

12. The method of controlling frictional relationship in drawing elongated workpieces, which includes the steps of supporting each roll of a pair of working rolls throughout its operative length between two rotatable elements reciprocated parallel to the axis of the rolls while rotating said supporting elements and simultaneously reciprocating and rotating said working rolls.

13. The method of reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece, which includes the steps of supporting a pair of dies throughout their operative length, moving the die supports parallel to the axis of the said dies, and rotating said dies and supports in controlling frictional rela-' tionship while pulling a workpiece through said dies.

14. The method of reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece, comprising mechanically drawing the workpiece between a pair of cylindrical die'members, supporting the die members throughout their operative length, and rotating the supports of the die members to frictionally rotate said die members, at. surface speeds greater than the speed of travel of the incoming workpiece and materially less than the speed of travel of the outgoing drawn produc 15. The method of reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece, comprising mechanically drawing the workpiece between a pair of cylindrical die members, supporting the die members throughout their operative length, rotating the supports of the diemembers to frictionally rotate said die members and reciprocating the die member supports in opposite directions to each other parallel to the axes of'the die members while rotating said die members.

16. The method of reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece, comprising mechanically drawing the workpiece between a pair of die members, supporting the die members throughout their operative length, housing the supports in longitudinal friction bearings rotating the supports of the die members to irictionally rotate said die members, and decreasingthe frictional surface resistance between said rotating supports and their respective longitudinal bearings by reciprocating said supports in oppbsite directions to each other and parallel to the axis of said die members, so as to facilitate the rotation of said supports in their respective friction bearings.

17. The method ofreducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece, comprising mechanically resistance between said die members and .the

workpiece by reciprocating said die members in opposite directions to each other and transversely of the path of travel of the workpiece, so as to facilitate the drawing of the workpiece between 10 the die members.

18. The method of reducing the thickness of an elongated workpiece, comprising mechanically drawing the workpiece between a pair of die members, supporting the die members throughout their operative length, rotating the supports of the die members to frictionally rotate said die members, and decreasing the frictional surface resistance between said die members and the workpiece by reciprocating said die members in opposite directions to each other and transversely of the path of travel of the workpiece, so as to facilitate the control of the speed of rotation of the die members and enable said die members to be rotated with a surface speed materially difierent than the speed of travel of the outcoming reduced product.

AARON SIMONS. 

